"Can we start with Potions?" Dorcas asks her two friends, digging through her bag for her quill. She almost wishes she'd done that fan fiction thing where they bring actual pens to this outdated wonderland, but she knows she can't afford to stand out like that yet.
"You mean you haven't done the essay yet?" Lily asks incredulously, settling into the seat directly across from her. "It's due tomorrow and we've had all week."
"And I've been working on it! The subject matter's just been kicking me in the ass," Dorcas complains, and it's not even a lie. No amount of prior knowledge and college level essay skills (or naturally talented wandwork) is going to change the fact that the "alternative uses of Ashwinder eggs" is a dull subject to study, especially for someone not at all skilled at potions. At first, she'd hoped that she could bullshit her way through Potions, but it proved too similar to Chemistry—her oldest nemesis.
There's a reason she's so reluctant to lose Severus as an ally.
"I can show you some good references," Severus offers from his seat beside her, fiddling with his quill.
"That'd be fantastic, thanks Sev," Dorcas flashes him a smile. "Since I'm apparently the only one needing to work on Potions, what do you two need help with?"
"History of Magic," Lily admits, heaving a sigh. "It's so disappointing, too. I'd love to learn all about how the Wizarding World became what it is today, but Professor Binns..."
"Should be thrown in the bin?" Dorcas suggests, causing Severus to roll his eyes at the admittedly bad pun.
"Normally I'd reprimand you, but, well, you're not wrong," she says with a giggle. "How 'bout you Sev? What do you need work on?"
"Transfiguration," Severus grimaces, looking at his textbook with disdain.
"So we're going over three different subjects today? Guess it'll be a long night," Dorcas sighs, echoed by her friends.
And a long night it was, but not for the reason they expected.
AN: Happy Holidays! This is late because I'll be moving soon so I haven't had a lot of free time. I'll probably only be posting once a week for now, so either Monday or Thursday, but probably not both. I'll try to inform you beforehand if I need to miss a week, though.